In this book Grandmaster Ray Keene traces the development of combinational thought from the early days of chess events up to the reign of world champion Anatoly Karpov. By identifying key recurring elements in the decisive combinations of the champions, Keene shows how readers can recognise these elements and pull off crushing finishes in their own games.

Raymond Keene is a British Chess Champion, and the first British Player to achieve a FIDE (World Chess Federation) Grandmaster norm. He was awarded the OBE for services to chess in 1985. He is Chess Correspondent of The Times, The Sunday Times, The Spectator, and The International Herald Tribune. He is a prolific author of chess books, several of which are classics of the genre. He has organised three World Chess Championships.